J-style gun rack for a safe

ABSTRACT

A gun rack including a gun barrel support and a lower support for retaining a gun in an upright position is provided. The gun barrel support has a retaining recess defined therein for retaining a barrel of the gun, wherein the retaining recess is J-shaped. Further, the gun barrel support has a front wall portion, a back wall portion and at least two side wall portions. The retaining recess includes an access portion, an intermediate portion and a receiving portion. The access portion extends from the front wall portion toward the back wall portion. The intermediate portion extends from the access portion toward one of the side wall portions. The receiving portion extends from the intermediate portion toward the front wall portion. Further, the receiving portion includes a rest area to retain the barrel of the gun. The lower support includes a recess for retaining the stock of the gun.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 60/516,332, filed on Oct. 31, 2003.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a rack for holding guns located withinan enclosure, safe or storage cabinet. More particularly, the presentinvention is directed to a gun barrel support having a J-shapedretaining recess that holds a firearm in position within the enclosure.Further, the present invention is directed to a gun barrel supporthaving a J-shaped retaining recess that is used in conjunction with alower support to hold the firearm in a generally upright position withinthe enclosure.

Many types of gun racks for rifles, shotguns and other long firearms arewell known in the art. In fact, some gun racks are configured to holdone or more guns within an enclosure or safe. Typically, these gun racksare mounted on the side wall of the safe and have a U-shaped grooveadapted to hold the barrel of the gun. In, particular, the gun barrel isplaced within the U-shaped groove, and the remaining portion of the gunis positioned at an angle so that the gun stock rests near the center ofthe floor of the safe.

While prior gun racks adapted for use inside a safe are capable ofretaining a plurality of guns, these gun racks have a number ofdrawbacks and deficiencies. For instance, the placement of the gunstocks near the center of the floor occupies valuable storage spacewithin the safe. Angling the gun barrel toward the side wall with thestock near the center of the floor makes the gun stock susceptible tosliding thereby causing the gun barrel to be unintentionally removedfrom the gun rack. If the gun stock were to be slid toward the sidewallof the safe, the gun barrel has a tendency to tip over, or otherwise beremoved from the U-shaped groove.

Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a gun rack that adequatelyholds a gun in an upright position within an enclosure. There is afurther need in the art for a gun rack that adequately holds a pluralityof guns while maximizing space within an enclosure. The presentinvention fills these needs as well as other needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to overcome the above stated problems and limitations there isprovided a gun rack for retaining at least one gun in a generallyupright position within an enclosure, wherein the gun has a barrel and astock portion. The gun rack includes a gun barrel support and a lowersupport.

The gun barrel support includes a front wall portion, a back wallportion and at least two side wall portions, wherein a J-shapedretaining recess is defined in the gun barrel support for selectivelyretaining the gun barrel. The retaining recess includes an accessportion, an intermediate portion and a receiving portion. The accessportion extends from the front wall portion toward the back wallportion. The intermediate portion extends from the access portion towardone of the side wall portions. Further, the receiving portion extendsfrom the intermediate portion toward the front wall portion, wherein thereceiving portion includes a rest area for the gun barrel. The lowersupport has a support base and at least one recess formed therein toselectively receive the gun stock portion of the gun.

The gun rack of the present invention may also include a stand that ispivotally coupled with the support base. The stand includes a supportfoot and an adjustment mechanism that is adapted to adjust the positionof the support foot relative to the support base. The stand providesadditional support to the lower support when the gun rack is mounted tothe door of the enclosure.

The use of the J-shaped gun barrel support and lower support allow theguns to be positioned in an upright position within the enclosurethereby maximizing the amount of available storage space within theenclosure. Further, the use of the J-shaped gun barrel support and lowersupport securely position the guns within the enclosure, which reducesthe chance that the guns will slide and be inadvertently removed fromthe gun rack.

Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the presentinvention will be set forth in part in the description which follows,and will in part become apparent to those in the practice of theinvention, when considered with the attached figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention,and the manner of attaining them, will become apparent and be betterunderstood by reference to the following description of the invention inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a gun rack in accordance with thepresent invention mounted to a door of a safe;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the gun rack shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the gun rack shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front view of an alternative embodiment of the gun rackshown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the gun rack shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a stand shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing the stand in a horizontalposition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings in detail, and particularly FIGS. 1-3,reference numeral 8 generally designates a gun rack for holding one ormore guns 9 in a generally upright position in accordance with thepresent invention. Gun rack 8 may include a gun barrel support 10 and alower support 12. Gun barrel support 10 and lower support 12 may bemounted to the surface of an interior wall 14 or the inside surface of adoor 16 of an enclosure 18, such as a gun safe, to store a plurality ofguns while maximizing space within the enclosure. In general, gun barrelsupport 10 has at least one J-shaped retaining recess defined therein tohold a gun barrel portion 20 of gun 9, and lower support 12 that isadapted to hold a stock portion 22 of gun 9.

With particular reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, gun barrel support 10includes a front wall portion 24, a back wall portion 26, a pair of sidewall portions 28, 30, a top surface 32, and a bottom surface 33. Backwall portion 26 may be fixedly or removably coupled with door 16, asbest seen in FIG. 1, or interior wall 14 of enclosure 18. Retainingrecess 34 is formed or defined in gun barrel support 10 for holding gunbarrel 20 in an upright position.

Specifically, retaining recess 34 includes an access portion 36, anintermediate portion 38, a receiving portion 39, and a rest area 40adapted to receive gun barrel 20. It will be understood that retainingrecess 34 has a width that allows a gun barrel to be slid and retainedtherein. Access portion 36 generally extends from front wall portion 24toward back wall portion 26 to a point in between front and back wallportions 24, 26. Intermediate portion 38 generally curves from the endof access portion 36, or otherwise extends in a straight manner, towardone of side wall portions 28, 30. Receiving portion 39 generally extendsfrom intermediate portion 38 toward front wall portion 24, butpreferably ends before extending all the way to front wall portion 24.As such, retaining recess 34 may be J-shaped as defined in top surface32 of gun barrel support 10.

Further, rest area 40 is a surface located in retaining recess 34 thatthe gun barrel 20 rests on to prevent the gun barrel 20 from tippingover toward the central portion of the enclosure 18. Resting gun barrel20 on rest area 40 allows for stock portion 22 of the gun to bepositioned closer to the enclosure door 16 or wall 14, thereby occupyingless of the available storage space within the enclosure.

The configuration of access portion 36, intermediate portion 38 andreceiving portion 39 results in the formation of an extension member 41,a connecting member 43, and a retention lip 45 formed in gun barrelsupport 10 that prevents gun barrel 20 from being removed from retainingrecess 34. In particular, extension member 41 extends outwardly from abase 47 of the gun barrel support 10, preferably at a generallyperpendicular angle from base 47. Connecting member 43 extends fromextension member 41 in a direction that is generally perpendicular toextension member 41, wherein an interior surface of connecting memberdefines at least a portion of rest area 40. Connecting member 43 mayalso extend generally parallel to base 47. Further, retention lip 45extends from connection member 43 toward base 47, preferably, but notnecessarily, in a direction that is generally perpendicular toconnection member 43, and generally parallel with extension member 41.However, retention lip 45 does not extend to base 47 so that gun barrel20 may be selectively retained within retaining recess 34.

It will be understood and appreciated that retaining recess 34 mayshaped in other configurations so long as the relative positions ofaccess portion 36, intermediate portion 38, receiving portion 39, andrest area 40 are formed in accordance with the description providedabove. Further, it is within the scope of the present invention to formaccess portion 36 a in one of side wall portions as best illustrated bythe retaining recess located closest to side wall portion 28 in FIG. 3.

As best seen in FIGS. 1-3, lower support 12 may be coupled with the door16 of enclosure 18, or with wall 14 of enclosure 18 (not shown). Inparticular, lower support 12 includes a support base 48 having one ormore recesses 50 defined therein that are adapted to receive gun stock22. Recesses 50 may extend at an angle relative door 16 or wall 14 asbest seen in FIG. 1. Furthermore, recesses 50 are of a depth that willretain stock portion 22 within the confines of lower support 12. Theretention of the stock portion 22 within recess 50 prevents stockportion 22 from slipping out of recess 50 and moving into a centerportion of enclosure 18. The retention of the stock portion 22 inconjunction with the retention of the gun barrel portion 20 in the gunbarrel support 10, as described above, allows the gun to be stored in anupright position and reduces the amount of space necessary to store thegun within an enclosure.

As best seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 7, lower support 12 mounted to door 16may include a stand 52 to provide support to lower support 12. Stand 52includes a housing 54, an adjustment mechanism 56 and a support foot 58.Housing 54 is either fixedly or pivotally coupled with support base 48and may be configured to be positioned horizontally so that door 16 maybe closed, as best seen in FIG. 8. Housing 54 is a tube-like member orsleeve that may have threads located within its bore. Support foot 58 isadjustably coupled to housing 54 so that it may be extended andretracted with respect to housing 54 using adjustment mechanism 56. Theadjustable nature of support foot allows stand 52 to be positioned incontact with an external support surface 60 to stabilize lower support12. Adjustment mechanism 56 may include a threaded rod 62 threadablyreceived within the bore of housing 54 and a fly nut 64 positioned onthe end of threaded rod 62 to allow for the extension and retraction ofsupport foot 58 by rotation of the threaded rod 62 with respect tohousing 54.

As best seen in FIGS. 4-6, an alternative gun rack 8′ including analternative gun barrel support 42 and lower support 66 is also withinthe scope of the present invention. Gun barrel support 42 includes aconfiguration where two retaining recesses 34 a, 34 b are combined withone another to share a common access portion 36. However, retainingrecess 34 a, 34 b provide separate intermediate portions 38 a, 38 b thatextend from common access portion 36 toward opposite side wall portions28, 30. In addition, receiving portions 39 a, 39 b extend fromintermediate portions 38 a, 38 b toward front wall portion 24 to formrest areas 40 a, 40 b as described above. The configuration of retainingrecesses 34 a, 34 b in gun barrel support 42 results in two J-shapedrecess positioned adjacent to one other. Further, a pair of an extensionmembers, connecting members and retaining lips are formed in accordancewith the discussion set forth above so that they are mirror images ofeach other to form a portion of gun barrel support 42 that may hold twoor more gun barrels 20.

It will be understood and appreciated that one or more single retainingrecesses 34 may be used alone or in conjunction with one or morecombined retaining recesses 34 a, 34 b on the same gun barrel rack 10 asbest seen in FIG. 5. In addition, as best seen in FIG. 4, lower support66 may include one or more legs 46 that allow lower support 66 to beplaced on the floor 44 of enclosure 18 rather than be mounted to wall 14or door 16. Further, as best seen in FIG. 6, one or more recesses 68 mayextend at a perpendicular angle relative to door 16 or wall 14 ofenclosure 18.

In use, the door 16 is opened to allow access to the interiorcompartment of enclosure 18. If a user desires to place one or more guns9 in gun rack 8, 8′ that is mounted on door 16, as seen in FIG. 2, thenstand 52 may be pivoted to a vertical position relative to support base48 as best seen in FIG. 7. Adjustment mechanism 56 may then bemanipulated until support foot 58 is in contact with external surface60. This will provide support for lower support 12, 66 while door 16 isin the open position.

Once stand 52 is in place, gun stock 22 may be positioned in recess 50,68 formed in lower support 12, 66. The gun barrel 20 is then insertedinto retaining recess 34, 34 a, 34 b. Specifically, gun barrel 20 isinserted through access portion 36 and moved toward back wall portion26. Gun barrel 20 is then moved through intermediate portion 38, 38 a,38 b toward one of the side wall portions 28, 30 depending on whichdirection the retaining recess is formed, and then is moved toward frontwall portion 24 through receiving portion 39, 39 a, 39 b until gunbarrel 20 is placed in contact with rest area 40, 40 a, 40 b. At thispoint, gun 9 is securely positioned within gun rack 8, 8′ in a generallyupright position. It will be understood that more guns may be placed ingun rack 8, 8′ using similar methodology. Further, the gun may beremoved from retaining recess 34, 34 a, 34 b by reversing the procedureset forth above.

Once the one or more guns are positioned in gun rack 8, 8′, door 16 maybe closed. Before closing door 16, adjustment mechanism 56 may berotated until support foot 58 is no longer in contact with externalsupport surface 60. In particular, as best seen in FIG. 8, stand 52 isrotated to a generally horizontal position relative to support surface60 so that door 16 may be closed.

The present invention overcomes and ameliorates the drawbacks anddeficiencies in the prior art. Specifically, the use of the J-shaped gunbarrel support and lower support allow the guns to be positioned in anupright position within the enclosure thereby maximizing the amount ofavailable storage space within the enclosure. Further, the use of theJ-shaped gun barrel support and lower support securely position the gunswithin the enclosure, which reduces the chance that the guns will slideand be inadvertently removed from the gun rack.

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detailwith reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions arepossible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims shouldnot be limited to the description of the preferred versions containedherein.

All features disclosed in the specification, including the claims,abstract, and drawings, and all the steps in any method or processdisclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations whereat least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. Eachfeature disclosed in the specification, including the claims, abstract,and drawings, can be replaced by alternative features serving the same,equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus,unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one exampleonly of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

1. A gun rack for retaining at least one gun in a generally uprightposition, the gun having a barrel and a stock portion, said gun rackcomprising: a gun barrel support having a first retaining recess definedtherein for selectively retaining the gun barrel, wherein said firstretaining recess is J-shaped.
 2. The gun rack as recited in claim 1,wherein said gun barrel support has a front wall portion, a back wallportion and at least two side wall portions.
 3. The gun rack as recitedin claim 2, wherein said first retaining recess includes: a first accessportion that extends from said front wall portion toward said back wallportion; a first intermediate portion that extends from said firstaccess portion toward one of said side wall portions; and a firstreceiving portion that extends from said first intermediate portiontoward said front wall portion, wherein said first receiving portionincludes a first rest area.
 4. The gun rack as recited in claim 3,further comprising a second retaining recess, wherein said retainingrecess includes: a second access portion that extends from said frontwall portion toward said back wall portion; a second intermediateportion that extends from said second access portion toward the other ofsaid side wall portions; and a second receiving portion that extendsfrom said second intermediate portion toward said front wall portion,wherein said second receiving portion includes a second rest area. 5.The gun rack as recited in claim 4, wherein said first and second accessportions are a common access location.
 6. The gun rack as recited inclaim 1, further comprising a lower support having a support base and atleast one recess formed in said support base, wherein said recess isadapted to selectively receive the gun stock portion.
 7. The gun rack asrecited in claim 6, further comprising a stand that is coupled with saidsupport base.
 8. The gun rack as recited in claim 7, wherein said standis pivotally coupled with said support base.
 9. The gun rack as recitedin claim 7, wherein said stand includes a support foot and an adjustmentmechanism, wherein said adjustment mechanism is adapted to adjust theposition of said support foot relative to said support base.
 10. A gunrack for retaining at least one gun in a generally upright position, thegun having a barrel and a stock portion, said gun rack comprising: a gunbarrel support having a base, an extension member, a connecting member,and a retention lip, wherein said extension member extends outwardlyfrom said base, wherein said connection member extends in a directionthat is generally perpendicular to said extension member, and whereinsaid retention lip extends toward said base thereby forming a retainingrecess for selectively retaining the gun barrel.
 11. The gun rack asrecited in claim 10, wherein said extension member extends in adirection that is perpendicular to said base.
 12. The gun rack asrecited in claim 10, wherein said connecting member extends parallel tosaid base.
 13. The gun rack as recited in claim 10, wherein saidretention lip is perpendicular to at least one of said connection memberand said base.
 14. The gun rack as recited in claim 10, wherein saidretention lip is parallel with said extension member.
 15. The gun rackas recited in claim 10, wherein said retaining recess is J-shaped. 16.The gun rack as recited in claim 10, wherein said gun barrel support hasa front wall portion, a back wall portion and at least two side wallportions, wherein said retaining recess includes: an access portion thatextends from said front wall portion toward said back wall portion; anintermediate portion that extends from said access portion toward one ofsaid side wall portions; and a receiving portion that extends from saidintermediate portion toward said front wall portion, wherein saidreceiving portion includes a rest area.
 17. The gun rack as recited inclaim 10, further comprising a lower support having a support base andat least one recess formed in said support base, wherein said recess isadapted to selectively receive the gun stock portion.
 18. The gun rackas recited in claim 17, further comprising a stand that is coupled withsaid support base.
 19. A gun rack for retaining at least one gun in agenerally upright position, the gun having a barrel and a stock portion,said gun rack comprising: a gun barrel support having a front wallportion, a back wall portion and at least two side wall portions, saidgun barrel support having a first retaining recess defined therein forselectively retaining the gun barrel, wherein said first retainingrecess includes: a first access portion that extends from said frontwall portion toward said back wall portion; a first intermediate portionthat extends from said first access portion toward one of said side wallportions; and a first receiving portion that extends from said firstintermediate portion toward said front wall portion, wherein said firstreceiving portion includes a first rest area.
 20. The gun rack asrecited in claim 19, wherein said first retaining recess is J-shaped.21. The gun rack as recited in claim 19, further comprising a secondretaining recess, wherein said retaining recess includes: a secondaccess portion that extends from said front wall portion toward saidback wall portion; a second intermediate portion that extends from saidsecond access portion toward the other of said side wall portions; and asecond receiving portion that extends from said second intermediateportion toward said front wall portion, wherein said second receivingportion includes a second rest area.
 22. The gun rack as recited inclaim 21, wherein said first and second access portions are a commonaccess location.
 23. The gun rack as recited in claim 19, furthercomprising a lower support having a support base and at least one recessformed in said support base, wherein said recess is adapted toselectively receive the gun stock portion.
 24. The gun rack as recitedin claim 23, further comprising a stand that is coupled with saidsupport base.
 25. The gun rack as recited in claim 24, wherein saidstand is pivotally coupled with said support base.
 26. The gun rack asrecited in claim 24, wherein said stand includes a support foot and anadjustment mechanism, wherein said adjustment mechanism is adapted toadjust the position of said support foot relative to said support base.27. A gun rack for retaining at least one gun in a generally uprightposition, the gun having a barrel and a stock portion, said gun rackcomprising: a gun barrel support having a front wall portion, a backwall portion and at least two side wall portions, wherein a retainingrecess is defined in said gun barrel support for selectively retainingthe gun barrel, and wherein said retaining recess includes: an accessportion that extends from said front wall portion toward said back wallportion; an intermediate portion that extends from said access portiontoward one of said side wall portions; and a receiving portion thatextends from said intermediate portion toward said front wall portion,wherein said receiving portion includes a rest area; a lower supporthaving a support base and at least one recess formed therein, whereinsaid recess is adapted to selectively receive the gun stock portion; anda stand pivotally coupled with said support base, and wherein said standincludes a support foot and an adjustment mechanism, wherein saidadjustment mechanism is adapted to adjust the position of said supportfoot relative to said support base.
 28. The gun rack recited in claim27, wherein said retaining recess is J- shaped.